The heroine in the story of Purim is Esther. What is unique about her is not only that she saved the Jews, but the way she accomplished this feat: risking her life for the benefit of her people.
To better appreciate her behavior, it is worth taking a lesson from this week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, the only portion since Moses’s birth in which his name is not mentioned even once.
The story behind the absence of his name is that Moses, when beseeching G-d on behalf of the Jews to forgive them after the sin of the golden calf, told G-d, “If you will not forgive the Jews, then take me out of your Book!” G-d did forgive the Jews, yet He honored Moses’s threat in order to teach us Moses’s greatness.
Moses was willing to forego everything he had accomplished during his life, just to do another Jew a favor. He was willing to lose everything to save Israel—even the sinners. This was the essence of Moses. So, although Moses is not called by name, the essence of his character shines forth throughout this portion.
Esther lived up to this same ideal. She risked her own life—she could have been killed just for walking into the king’s chamber unannounced. She also risked her soul, by letting the king know that she was a Jewess. Yet she did what was best for her fellow Jews.
We mention Esther by name in this portion to teach us an important lesson: Just as Esther was able to live up to Moses’s ideal, so can we. This is why on Purim it is important to perform the Mitzvah of giving charity to the needy. It is a time when we act in a selfless manner, putting others’ needs before our own. Another Mitzvah that is commonly performed on Purim is to give gifts of food to our friends. We also read the scroll of Esther and celebrate with friends and family. To join the Community Purim Celebration “Purim in Outer Space,” please click here.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim!